Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
MACA ROOT: THE LIBIDO BOOSTER By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Maca Root is a very interesting nutrient that many people aren’t familiar with but is incredibly versatile. It can be found in a powder, in a capsule form (Maca Root) or even as …
FEBRUARY~LOVE AND HEARTS…THE RECIPES By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT February is an interesting month. Not only is it Valentine’s Day which is always full of love but it’s also heart health awareness month….quite fitting if you ask me. Let’s spend this month together …
Greens Hx part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In our last blog we were talking about how one of our most popular supplements can be beneficial for our heart. This supplement was Greens Hx and we will be continuing this exciting topic today! So let’s start off with talking about citrus bioflavonoids. To being just what are citrus bioflavonoids? Bioflavonoids are compounds that are found in different fruits, vegetables, chocolate and even tea and coffee! Bio flavonoids are flavonoids that are beneficial to our health in some way. As you can probably grasp from the name citrus bioflavonoids come from citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and even grapefruit. (1) Studies have found that citrus bioflavonoids have a number of benefits for heart health and even circulation. For example studies have found that they can help to modulate lipid metabolism, improve cardiovascular outcomes and even suppress inflammation. In fact they have been found to help protect against cardiovascular disease and even offer vascular protection via a number of pathways. Please take a look at the picture below. (2)
The next item has long been considered to be a superfood in its own right. And that is the amazing blueberry. To start studies have found that the antioxidants in blueberries can help to lower the levels of oxidized LDL. (3) One study found that blueberries can “significantly lower the oxidation of LDL”. (4) In one study in just 8 weeks it was found that those consuming blueberries had between a 4-6% decrease in blood pressure! (5) Other studies have also found that blueberries can help to lower blood pressure and even reduce arterial stiffness. (6) Lastly studies have found that blue berry intake is associated with a decreased risk of myocardial Infarction in both younger and middle aged women. (7)
The next item is something you might expect to find in a popular song not a blog on how Greens Hx is good for heart health. That is parsley! Props if you know the song it’s in. Anyoo moving on studies have found that flavonoid intake, such as those in parsley is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. (8) Parsley, which is very high in certain B vitamins may also be helpful in lowering homocysteine which is a well-known marker of cardiovascular disease. (9) In one study the B vitamins found in parsley were associated with a lowered risk of stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure! (10) Studies have also found that parsley can help to lower cholesterol levels. (11)
Alfalfa is the next item in Greens Hx. What does WebMD have to say about alfalfa? Well according to WebMD alfalfa can help to lower LDL cholesterol by reducing the rate of absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. WebMD also says that alfalfa is full of nutrients that are good for our heart. (12) Studies have found that alfalfa is helpful in protecting us from damage caused by nicotine use. (13) One interesting study on alfalfa found that over just 2 months of use there was an improvement in cholesterol levels. (14)
Rosemary may be another surprise when it comes to promoting heart health. In fact one study found that rosemary reduced the risk of heart failure following a heart attack. (15) Studies have also found that rosemary may inhibit the production of lipids and even lower our blood pressure. (16)
Bilberry has a number of benefits when it comes to heart health. Studies have found that bilberry can help to lower LDL and total cholesterol. (17) Other studies have found evidence that strongly supports the conclusion that bilberry helps to normalize blood pressure. (18) In one study that was just 8 weeks long people who used bilberry saw improvements in areas such as platelet function, blood pressure and even HDL levels! (19) According to Mount Sinai studies have found that bilberry may help to strengthen blood vessels and even improve our circulation. (20)
Lastly I wanted to mention stevia. While most people probably think of stevia as just a sweetener it is much more than that. Studies have found that stevia can help to lower total cholesterol, LDL and even triglycerides. (21) And then there are its benefits for things outside of heart health. Overall as you can see Greens Hx is an amazing formula not just for our liver and detox but for our overall heart health too. As w slowly approach the end of this exciting look at heart health I hope that it has been both educational and perhaps a little fun too! My last blog on this topic before I do a summary will be regarding cardiomegaly or an enlarged heart.
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Greens Hx….for our heart? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Greens Hx is probably one of the most popular products at Invite! Everyone knows how amazing Greens Hx is for our liver, immune system, detox and even energy! What most people may not know is that …
PROTEIN (POWDER): THE IMPORTANT NUTRIENT WE ALL KNOW By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Protein is that nutrient that everyone knows and everyone loves. But how well do we know all the proteins available? Let’s navigate through one of our favorite foods and discuss …
Nattokinase!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
What the heck is Nattokinase? Where does it come from? What exactly does it do? Is it just for heart health or does it do anything else for us? These are just some of the questions that people have about Nattokinase. I get so many questions about Nattokinase that I wanted to take the time to explore this interesting supplement. Let’s start at the beginning. Nattokinase is an enzyme. It is extracted from a Japanese food called Natto. The way that Natto is produced is by adding a bacteria called Bacillus Subtilis to boiled soybeans. Now I just want to point out that while other soy foods may have enzymes only Natto contains Nattokinase. (1)
Nattokinase has been found in studies to have numerous benefits for our heart health including reducing the risk of heart attack and even improving overall heart health. (2) Studies have found that Nattokinase can help to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. (3) In addition to helping lower blood pressure Nattokinase has also been found to help lower LDL, triglycerides and even total cholesterol. (2) Studies have also found that Nattokinase may help with slowing the development of atherosclerosis. This is because Nattokinase has both antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects that may help to clean out the arteries. (4) Nattokinase has been found to be a very potent blood clot dissolving protein. (5) In fact when Nattokinase comes into contact with blood clots it has been found to break them up. (1)
Now I know some people might say but wait does it really work this way in the human body? Doesn’t it get broken down by our digestive juices and not really do anything? Well studies have been conducted and found that Nattokinase is active in the body when used orally. (6)
Due to the fact that Nattokinase helps to break up blood clots it has also been studied in regards to stroke. I know your probably thinking wait stroke? What does that have to do with heart health? Well to be honest the risk factors for many heart conditions and a stroke are very often the same and thus in my clinical experience those who have heart disease are often at risk of a stroke. So I wanted to mention it here. Plus as I hinted in the beginning of this blog Nattokinase isn’t just a “heart supplement”. It is useful for more than just heart health. Now back to Nattokinase and strokes. In one study in those who have had a stroke after 60 days of Nattokinase the patients had better control over their blood pressure and even cholesterol levels. (7) Nattokinase has also been found to help improve the cognitive function in those who have had a stroke. (8)
Nattokinase has also been found to be helpful in protecting our blood vessels after they are injured. In other studies Nattokinase was found to help reduce the amount of aortic plaque that builds up in those who have high cholesterol. Nattokinase has been found to be very good at breaking up blood clots. Research has explored using it to help break up other things in the body. New research has found that Nattokinase may be helpful at degrading amyloid fibrils suggesting it may be helpful for diseases such as Alzheimer disease. (9)
So let’s sum up a few things from all these studies. Overall studies have found that Nattokinase is good for blood clots, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and overall heart health. Other studies have found that Nattokinase can even help our brain and reduce our stroke risk. It has also been found to help with certain diseases where there is a buildup of amyloid fibrils such as Alzheimer disease. That is just amazing! (10)
Now just a PSA I’d like to point out that Nattokinase can and does interact with certain medications. This is why it is so important to talk to an Invite nutritionist to determine if Nattokinase is right for you!
Our next topic will be something that has cropped up quite a bit over these weeks of talking about heart health – Coronary Artery Disease!
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